National Motorists Association Foundation

Motorcycle Riders Foundation

In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a revision of emissions standards for motorcycles. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has testified against this proposal at public hearings conducted by the EPA. The MRF disputed EPA claims regarding how much motorcycles contribute to pollution, and also discussed how emissions were related to performance and performance was directly tied to motorcycle safety.

The MRF representative also testified that this proposed rule would “destroy a vast cottage industry of small businesses — from small-volume motorcycle makers to the aftermarket. The direct costs of this unnecessary regulation will be the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and a radical reduction in motorcycling in America.”

The MRF asked that the EPA delay the implementation of the proposed new standards to ensure that their foundation had adequate time to conduct a research study on the long-term economic effects of these new emissions regulations. The NMA Foundation issued a $500 research grant to help defray the costs of this research project.

Through their findings, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation was able to achieve a two-year delay in the planned harmonization of national motorcycle emissions standards with those of California (the most stringent regulations in the United States). Furthermore, the MRF was able to convince the EPA to reopen the rules for discussion in 2006, which may allow for them to be altered and scaled back.